Known Safety Violation - San Antonio Refinery Fire

Wednesday morning, only a couple of hours following the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama exploded, a San Antonio refinery fire sent a large plume of black smoke into the air. The San Antonio refinery fire began when an 18-wheeler truck being loaded with fuel exploded. The first explosion within the San Antonio refinery set off a lot of explosions that went on for 45 minutes or a lot more.

The San Antonio refinery is still burning

At the San Antonio refinery fire today there were a lot more than 100 firefighters and emergency responders. Evacuated were all residents within a half mile of the explosion. Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be lost to private money lenders also as any financers. Up to 40 miles away the smoke can still be seen. The fire will probably burn hot and for a long time considering the San Antonio refinery fire is fuel based.

San Antonio refinery explosion began with an 18 wheeler explosion

An 18 wheeler truck was what started the San Antonio refinery explosion. The truck was being pumped with fuel on a loading dock when it exploded. This set off a chain reaction of explosions within the refinery and started a fire that is expected to burn for a number of days. Hazmat crews and firefighters were working to shut off the valves which were still pumping fuel after the fire began.

Before San Antonio refinery explosion, OSHA violations given

The refinery was cited numerous times for safety violations before the San Antonio refinery fire. In 2007 alone, the San Antonio refinery was fined for up to 13 “serious violations”. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, those 13 violations remain “current”. AGE refining, as the only refinery in San Antonio, provides jet fuel and diesel to the US Air Force and many other customers.

Watch reports on the San Antonio refinery fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm3-rA9Hl9k&feature=player_embedded

Resources

NPR News

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/05/texas_refinery_catches_fire_af.html

My San Antonio

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Fire_burning_on_South_Side.html?showFullArticle=y

Kens5.com

http://www.kens5.com/news/local/Reports-of-92876584.html

The Associated Press

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jYkAyfTB-gAvN27Vp6Uy-96rPlcgD9FGS8TG2